Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by
influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu
vaccination each year. Each year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Seasonal influenza vaccination recommendations, 2009:
Children and Adolescents aged 6 months--18 years
All children aged 6 months--18 years should be vaccinated annually.
Children and adolescents at higher risk for influenza complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routinely vaccinating all children and adolescents, including those who:
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are aged 6 months--4 years (59 months);
- have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
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are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
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are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
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are residents of long-term care facilities; and
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will be pregnant during the influenza season.
Note: Children aged < 6 months cannot receive influenza vaccination. Household and other close contacts (e.g., daycare providers) of children aged < 6 months, including older children and adolescents, should be vaccinated.
Seasonal influenza vaccination recommendations, 2009: Adults
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Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination is recommended for all adults without contraindications in the following groups, because these persons either are at higher risk for influenza complications, or are close contacts of persons at higher risk: |
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persons aged 50 years and older;
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women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
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persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
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persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus;
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residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
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health-care personnel;
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household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and
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household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.
Watch stories of people and families affected by influenza:
A powerful video that tells the stories of several Families Fighting Flu members whose children were lost to influenza.
Case reports,
personal testimonies, newspaper and journal articles about people who have suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases.
